Work holder for use in welding



March 27, 1951 E. LAUNDER 2,546,458

WORK HOLDER FOR USE IN WELDING Filed Nov. 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l quiz[11111 I I March 27, 1951 E. L. LAUNDER 2,546,458

WORK HOLDER FOR USE IN WELDING Filed Nov. 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I VI mm Leo J1? W//////////////////fl INVENTOE MZM Q TTOENEV Patented Mar.27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WORKHOLDEB FOR USE IN .WELDINGErnie L. Launden Montebello, Califl, assignor to H. and L.-'ToothCompany, Lqs AD QlQS, Calif a corporation of California ApplicationNovember 1-4, 1947, Serial:No. -,-785 8 8 4 2 cl ims. (ores-ass) Thisinvention relates to a work holder for use in welding and itis ageneralobject of the present invention toprovide a simple, practical, easilyoperated device by which an object or work piece of varying form may besupportedin a most advantageous manner in the course of welding thevarious parts thereof.

In the course of manufacturing articles or objects requiring welding andwhere the welds runat differentanglesat different partsof such objects,difficulties are experienced due to the fact that in the course ofwelding the molten material runs or flows in an undesirable manner,unless the point of weld'is substantially horizontal. It is of coursepossible for the operator or welder to, shift an object from onepositionto another, in the course of making the several welds or in the courseof welding at several difierent parts, but this is slow, inconvenientand oftentimes cumbersome.

The present invention is, in-accordance with its broader principles,useful for handlingvarious objects or devices requiring welding.However, as-it is particularly usefuland practical for handling objectssuch as'digger teeth or caps for digger-teeth, we will describe itspecifically with reference to such objects. However, Iwish itunderstood that modifications and variations may bemacle-as-circumstances require, in order toadapt it to other devices orobjects.

In the case'of a digger tooth ordigger tooth cap such as I reiertotheobject or unit of work ismadeupof two parts, one a flat elongate. bladeand the other amounting shell or capengaged with theblade andvweldedthereto lengthwise of the blade and also transversely of the blade, thuspresenting Welds at different parts or extending .in difierentdirectionsinconvenient or;in accessible withoutshifting the object relative to thewelder, and requiring that the points of -weld be substantiallyhorizontally disposed duringthe course of Welding in order to preventmolten ma-. terial from running in an undesirable manner.

It is a generalobject of the present invention to provide a work holderfor objects such as I have referred to whichinvolve few simple, easilyoperated parts, enabling the welder while seated or located in aconvenient position to manipulate the work from one position to another,bringing the parts to be welded successively into position convenienttothe Welder and substantially horizontal, to bedisposed in amostadvantageous position for welding.

It is. another object of the. presentinvention toprovide apparatusoraworkholder ,of the eneral character referred to including power meansfor shifting the elements that are heavyor unwieldy, thus enabling thewelder to operate the apparatusquicklyandwith a .minimum 0f effort.Anotherobjectof the present .invention-is tp provide ,a .holder of thegeneral character .referred .to with powerlme'ans for retaining the workin position in the holder, so that 1 the parts to be welded, though initi ally loose, arepositively and firmly held in position throughoutthecourse .Ofwelding.

.It is another object of the present, invention to provide a. holder. of,the. general character referred to which is simple and inexpensive ofmanufacture and which involves few easily operated parts.

The various ebjects andvfeat ures of myinvention willbe fullyunderstoodfromthefollowing detailed description of typical preferred ,foifins andapplications of the invention, v throughout which description referenceismade to ,the accornpanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. lis aside. elevation of amachine or holder em ne h e inven ion, .sfo.w ne work located therein and ready to be engagedby the retainer.Fig. 2 isayiew similar to Fig. l showing h m c in e a ed m .iherq iiqnsh w inFig. v1v with the worlgretainer engaged, holding th w k n pos tqni thaholde .Ei ..i-= ,.an end elevation of ,the,machi ne taken asindicated by. line 3,,3. on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is anenlargedfdetailedsectional view talgen a s indicated by line 4,4- onFig. 1. Fig.5 is anenlarged oletail sectional view t a ken as ind cated by 1ine 5 5 r: nFig.3. Fig. dis anenlaurged Sectional view'taken a ca e ..,1in,6.. 6,.n-Fi Fla -7, san enlar ed deta led sectional V ew aken a indicated 1111414 an ie- 3- fi -v.8, an, en ar Pla View 9 t wq krestshow n lin t e w rthereon with the retainer engaging the work a howi i h means ro ided siton n the r en a e the e mihein a enlar e view takenasflindicated by lineta on Fig." 3. Fig. 9 is aside elevation ofthe part shownin Fig. 8,being aviewtaken as indicated by; line 9 9 on Fig. 8 with certain .of;the parts broken away to showin section. Fig. IO is asectional viewtaken as indicated by line l0- l0 onFig Q; Fig. 11 is a sectio a .viwitalge asjnd qatcah line I I onFig Fig l'Z is a perspectivevieyv lus rt a un t. of iw rksuc vv mar e o a v ta i a gn m inapres a nvention andEie-,.;,1. a qw. im la rt Bi -5 showin ename orm of cons ruction whereintwo units of work are in direct abutting engagement on the work rest.

Referring first to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to12, inclusive, the machine of the present invention involves, generally,a base A, a frame B, means C mounting the frame on the base, actuatingmeans D for .the frame, stop means E for the frame, a work rest F,mounting means G for the rest, work retaining means H cooperativelyrelated to the rest, a spacer J on the rest spacing units of work aparton the rest, and means K positioningwork parts on the rest duringassembly preliminary to actuation of the means H.

The base A may, in practice, vary widely in form'and constructiondepending upon the size of the machine and the class of work to behandled thereby. The particular base illustrated in the drawingsinvolves a bottom or platform ID that may be in the nature of a flatplate to rest on a fioor or other suitable support. The base furtherincludes an upright or standard I] rigid on the platform I andprojecting upwardly therefrom, preferably at the forward portionthereof. The particular standard shown in the drawings involves a frontl2 and spaced parallel sides 13 extending rearwardly from the verticaledges of the front. The lower edges of the front l2 and sides l3 arebonded or joined to the plate In as by welding or the like.

The frame B supported on or from the base A through the means Cinvolves, primarily, upper and lower arms [4 and I5, respectively. Thearms I4 and I5 are rigidly spaced apart vertically, the arm I5 servingprimarily as a support while the arm [4 acts as a head. In theparticular form of the invention illustrated the frame is a unitarystructure in the nature of a G-frame, in which case it involves avertically disposed back [6 extending between the rear end portions ofthe arms I4 and I5, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In theform of construction illustrated the arms l4 and I5 and the back N5 ofthe frame Bare a continuous elongate membertubular in cross sectionalconfiguration and having the desired C-configuration. a

V The mounting means C mounts the frame B on the base A so that it isshiftable relative thereto. .In the preferred arrangement the means Cpivotally connects or mounts the frame on the base and in thearrangement illustrated the lower arm 15 of the frame is pivotallyconnected to the upper end portion of the standard II by a pivot pin IT.The pin l1 preferably extends horizontally between the upper. endportion of the sides I 3 of the standard II and extends through orcarries the forward end portion of arm I5 as clearly shown throughoutthe drawings.

The actuating means D serves to shift or operate the frame '3 relativeto the base A and where the frame ispivotally supported it serves to.swing the frame about its pivotal axis. The means D is preferably apower means such as a fluid pressure means, in which case it may involvea fiuid pressure actuated cylinder and piston mechanism or the like. Inthe case illustrated the means D is shown as including a cylinder 20anchored at its lower end to the base A by a pivot pin 2| and a piston22 operable in the cylinder 20 and having a piston rod 23 extendingtherefrom and projecting from the upper end of the cylinder to the frameB to which it is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 24. In the preferredarrangement, as shown in the drawings, the lower end of cylinder 20 isconnected to the lower forward portion of the frame A while the upperend of the piston rod 23 is connected to the upper rear corner of theframe 13, that is to the point of the frame where the arm l4 joins theback [6.

The cylinder 20 of means D is connected with a suitable pressure supply25 through a control valve 26 preferably a treadle type valve located onthe platform of the base A adjacent the standard H. The construction maybe such that when the operator depresses the pedal or operates the valve26 fluid under pressure is admitted into cylinder 20, moving the piston22 upwardly in the cylinder and causing the frame B to be operated tothe position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The structure is such thatwhen the valve 26 is in the normal or unactuated position fluid isallowed to escape from cylinder 20, in which case gravity acting on theframe B causes it to swing or lower to the position shown in Fig. 2.

The. stop means E is provided to limit pivotal movement of the frame Brelative to the base A, preferably in both directions. In the form ofthe invention illustrated the stop means is shown as an independentmeans, that is, it is shown independent of the means D or of any otherparts, except as will be hereinafter. described. The stop means E in theform illustrated involves a rod 30 pivotally anchored to the base A, asby a pivot .pin 3!, and extending upwardly therefrom and through a guide32 pivotally carried on the frame B. Stop collars 33 are adjustably seton the rod 30 and cushion springs 34 are provided .to act between theguide and stop collars as the stop acts to limit the movement of theframe. It will be apparent from Fig. 1 of the drawings how by adjustmentof the stops along the rod 30 the means E may be adjusted to stop theframe-B in any desired rotative positions, as for example positions suchas are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The work rest F is carried on or supported by the arm I5 of frame B,preferably at the forward end portion thereof. In the preferred form therest is in the nature of a work carrying table and it may be such as tocarry one or more parts or units of work, as circumstances may require.In the drawings the rest is shown as a flat plate-like element 35elongate in form and such as to carry two work units W.

The mounting means G for the rest F supports the rest from the arm I5 ofthe frame so that it'is shiftable relative thereto. It is preferred thatthe means G be such as to pivotally connect the rest and frame arm. Inthe case illustrated the means G is shown as involving a depending pivotpin 38 secured to the center of the rest F midway between its ends anddepending into a bearing opening 39 provided in the forward end portionof the arm IS. The pin 38 rotatably fits the opening 39 and in practicethe engagement is such as to allow the pin to be readily Withdrawn fromthe opening whenever desired, so that a new or different rest can beengaged in the machine at will.

The work retaining means I-l cooperates with the rest F to hold units ofwork W thereon or in fixed position relative thereto. It is preferredthat the means H be power actuated and it is most convenient that it bea fluid pressure actuated means. In the case illustrated the means H isshown as involving a cylinder 40 carried by the forward end portion ofarm M of the frame -'5 Band a piston "'41 operable in the "cylinder andhaving a "piston rod 42 projecting therefromand carryingaclamp foot 13.In the preferred'construction the clamp foot is pivotally carried by apivot pin 44 supported by a head 45 on the outer or lower endof thepiston rod 42. In the particular case illustrated a spring 46 isprovided in the cylinder '49 below the piston 4| 'to normally'yieldingly urge the piston upwardly in the-cylinder so that the'clampfoot 43 is nor- "mally in an up or-elevated position as shown in "Figs.1 and 3 of the drawings. 'It 'is-significant "tonote that the axis ofthe cylinder and piston mechanism of means I-I is-coincidental with thatof the mounting means G, making'it possible for the operator to rotatethe rest -F freelyin either direction while the means H isoperatedor-engaged with work on the-rest, as'will be hereinafterdescribed.

Operating pressure is applied to thecylinder 40 above the piston 4|'fromthe'pressuresupply line through a valve 49 preferably a treadletype valve, and asuitable line orpressure-connection 49 extending fromthe valve 48 to the upper end of theeylinder 40. The valve 48 ispreferably located on the platform iii of thebase A adjacent valve26,-so that it is convenient to the foot of the operator. The line49extends from the valve-48 upwardly through the standard I I- of thebase and then through the frame to 'the' cylinder 40 at the upperforward portion of the frame arm M. It isto be understood that theconnection 49 may be provided with a suitable flexible-section '50wherethe frame connectswith the base, in order to allow for freemovement of the frame relative to the base.

The particular object or work unit W to be handled by the form oftheinvention shown'in the drawings is a digger tooth, or a cap applicableto a digger tooth, or the like. Thecap-isformed of two elements, a mainpartor blade '60 and a shell or cap 6|. The blade 691s a'flatelongatepart sharpened at one end to present a leading edge 62, and theparticular unit illustrated in the drawings is provided at the other endwith a projecting tongue B3. The shell or cap 'BI "is mounted on the topof the blade 60 and has a top 64 with its forward edge engaging the topof the blade and has depending sides 65 with their ;lower edges engagingthe top of the blade. This particular unit of work involves-welding 66between the edges of the sides 65 and the blade 69 and welding 61between the forward edge of the top-Hand the top of blade 69. It will beappar- -'ent from Fig. 12 of the drawings that these welds extend atdifierent angles or are angularly related to each other and requiremanipulation of the unit relativeto the welder if the welderis-to remainin one position in the course of making the'welds.

Iii-handling work units such -as I have just referred to it isadvantageous to provide the rest'F atthe middle thereof with'a spacer -Jagainst which the inner ends 69 of the blades 69 may abut and whichspacer has a recess 10 into which the tongues 63 may extend. With theblades 69 of two work units on the rest F engaging opposite sides of thespacer J the blades extend in opposite directions from the center of therest. In the particular form of the invention under consideration guidesH are provided on the rest to facilitate proper location of the caps 6|on the blades 69. Each guide is shown as including a central body 13extending longitudinally of the rest to enter a cap BI and shoes 14 areprovided at the sides of the body and are normally yieldingly urgedbutwardly by springs 15. The two guides 1| .may

be formed as a unit or they may be joined .to-

gether as shown in the drawings, .and a single orienting pin 16 may becarried by the rest'to project upwardly from the center thereof andabove the spacer J to enter a central opening 11 or means K shown in thedrawings involves -a shiftable arm carried by the frame B and supportinga head 9| which, when in operating position extends parallel with therest F at one side or edge thereof, preferably at the inner sidethereof. A plurality of orienting or locating pins '93 and 94 projectfrom the-head, the pins 93 engaging the rest 35 to hold it againstmovement, and

'the pins 94 engaging the sides of the blades 63 and caps 6! to holdthem in position laterally relative to the blades on which they rest. Inthe particular case illustrated the arm 99 is pivotally connected to theframe B by pivot pin 95, so that when the work parts have been orientedthe fixture K can be swung out of the way or team inoperative position,such as is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

In operating the holder of the present invention the means D- isinitially operated to position the frame B as shown in Fig. l, the meansH beingin the unactuated position in which case the clamp foot 43 is inan elevated position. With the proper attachments or parts on the rest35, that is with parts such as the spacer J and guides H in place on therest, the blades 69 of the Work units are arranged on the rest inengagement with the spacer. The caps 6! of the work units are thenarranged in place on the guides and the fixture K is operated or rotatedas shown in Fig. 1 to properly position the caps laterally of theblades. The operator then actuates valve 48 energizing means H so thatthe clamp foot 43 is moved downwardly into clamping engagement with thecaps 6|, forcing them tight against the blades. In the particular caseillustrated the lower ends of the depending parts of the foot 43 aresharpened or pointedso that they eifectively hold the caps in thedesired manner. It will be understood that the shape, form, or characterof parts such as the clamp foot may vary in practice, depending upon thework to be held.

With the separate-parts of the two work units thus set in the desiredrelationship in the holder,

the operator or welder can proceed to make the desired welds in a mostadvantageous manner.

For example, he may release valve 25 allowing gravity to move the frameto the position'shown in Fig. 2, with the result that the weld 655 atone side of one work unit may be made while the parts at the weld arehorizontally disposed and faced upwardly in the desired manner. Whenthis weld 69 has been completed the rest F may a most advantageousmanner. When the weld of one'work unit has thus been completed in whatamounts practically to a continuousoperation, the welder may repeat thecycle or operation with reference to the other work unit, thuscompleting the welds of two work units with one setting of parts in theholder. With the welds completed the holder is operated back to theposition shown in Fig. 1 and the means H is released, thus freeing thecompleted work units so that they can be readily freed from the rest andthe parts thereon. V v 1 In the case of the structure shown in Fig. 13of the drawings the work units W are arranged on the rest F with theinner ends of the blades 60 directly engaging each other without aspacer between them. This arrangement of blades is possible since theblades 69' are Without tongues 63 that might otherwise interfere. Inthis form of the invention the guides 7| as above described are notemployed, although it is desired that the fixture K be used to positionthe parts laterally, as hereinabove described.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but Wish to reserve to myself any variationsor modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fallwithin the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A work holding machine including, a stationary base, a C-shaped framewith spaced upper and lower arms, means pivotally connecting the outerend of the lower arm of the frame to the base on a horizontal axisextending transverse of the machine with the frame opening toward thefront of the machine, an elongate power unit having one end pivotallyanchored to the base and the other end pivotally connected to the frameat a point rearward of said horizontal axis and operable to rock theframe between an up position where the lower arm is substantiallyhorizontal and a down position where the lower arm extends downwardlyand rearwardly, stop means limiting pivotal movement of the frame, awork rest having a work receiving face opposing the upper arm of theframe, means pivotally mounting the rest on the. forward end portion ofsaid lower arm between the arms and on an axis substantially normal tothe said horizontal axis, a work positioning element pivotally mountedon the frame and movable to a working position where it holds the restagainst rotation in a predetermined position, a work retainer engageablewith work located on the rest, and power means supporting the retaineron the upper arm to reciprocate relative to the rest and pivot about anaxis coincidental with that of the rest, the work positioning elementbeing movable to a retracted position where it is clear of the rest andis related to the retainer so the rest is free to rotate, the pivotalaxis of the positioning element being located in a plane substantiallycoincidental with that of said face and being spaced a subing the outerend of the lower arm of the frame to the base on a horizontal axisextending transverse of the machine with the frame opening toward thefront of the machine, a fluid pressure actuated cylinder and pistonmechanism pivotally connected to the base and to the frame and operableto rock the frame between an up position where the lower arm issubstantially horizontal and a down position where the lower arm extendsdownwardly and rearwardly, stop means limiting pivotal movement of theframe, a work rest having a work receiving face opposing the upper armof the frame, means pivotally mounting the rest on the forward endportion of said lower arm between the arms and on an axis substantiallynormal to the said horizontal axis, a work positioning element pivotallymounted on the frame and movable to a working position where it holdsthe rest against rotation in a predetermined position, a work retainerengageable with work located on the rest, and power means supporting theretainer on the upper arm to reciprocate relative to the rest and pivotabout an axis coincidental with that of the rest, the work positioningelement being movable to a retracted position where it is clear of therest and is related to the retainer so the rest is free to rotate andhaving stops engaging the work rest and stops in predetermined positionsrelative to the first mentioned stops and engageable by work on the restwhen the rest is held by said element, the pivotal axis of thepositioning element being located in a plane substantially coincidentalwith that of said face and being spaced a substantial distance from thepivotal axis of the rest, the work retainer having a head extendingtransversely of the axis of the retainer and rest and having spaced workengaging elemnts projectin from the head and toward the rest.

ERNIE L. LAUNDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 769,955 Osswald Sept. 13, 19041,580,924 Shannon Apr. 13, 1926 1,732,081 Clement Oct. 15, 19291,930,642 Clark Oct. 17, 1933 2,289,597 Seat July 14, 1942 2,304,493Bullock Dec. 8, 1942 2,353,891 Gruntorad July 18, 1944 2,429,669Crawford Oct. 28, 1947 2,451,733 Hockwarder Oct. 19, 1948

